# Acceptability of Medical Male Circumcision as an HIV Prevention Intervention among Male Learners in a South African High School

## TL;DR

This study explores the knowledge and acceptance of medical male circumcision as an HIV prevention method among high school boys in South Africa.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the low acceptability of VMMC among young males in a specific cultural context.

## Key findings

- 82% of participants had received information about VMMC.
- 88% of respondents preferred traditional male circumcision over VMMC.
- Participants showed low acceptability and knowledge of VMMC despite understanding its distinction from TMC.

## Abstract

Circumcision is a long-standing and frequently performed surgical procedure which holds significant cultural significance among AmaXhosa people in South Africa. Due to cultural reasons in some parts of Africa, the integration of medical male circumcision with traditional manhood initiation rituals still lacks acceptance. This study examined the level of knowledge and acceptance of voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) among young males in a selected high school in the Nyandeni District of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of VMMC, perceptions of VMMC, and circumcision practices. One hundred participants were recruited from both grades 11 and 12, and 82% of the participants indicated that they had received information about VMMC. Most of the respondents (88%) preferred traditional male circumcision (TMC), and only 12% of respondents preferred VMMC. The participants displayed a good understanding of the distinction between VMMC and TMC. However, results from the study showed that most respondents exhibited low acceptability and knowledge towards VMMC. These findings highlight the need to develop evidence-based strategies to enhance learners’ knowledge and acceptance of VMMC.